Graceful and elegant, Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are an excellent addition to most gardens. Essentially carefree once established, they offer year-round interest with their ever-changing beauty. From the sculpture of bare winter branches to the flush of spring leaves in colors from red to pink to green, followed by lush summer growth, and finally, a big finish in the fall, they’re one of the most compelling plants you can add to your landscape (or terrace, patio, or courtyard, too–remember, some can grow in large pots).
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To figure out which maple is right for your garden, consider these four factors:
Zone: Most Japanese maples do well in zones 5 – 8. They can be grown in higher zones, but can suffer from leaf scorch and require ample regular summer irrigation and protection from hot afternoon sun. In Zone 4, Japanese maples are simply not reliable in the garden. It’s possible for them to survive a year or two if the winter lows aren’t too severe, but sooner or later, they will succumb to weather. They can, however, be grown in containers and, once dormant, overwintered in an unheated garage or other cool, sheltered location. A better option might be a Korean maple which is equally lovely and hardy to zone 4.
Size and Form: Choosing the right one means knowing how you want to use it. Japanese maples range from 2 to 30 feet tall in forms that can be weeping, rounded, dwarf, mounding, upright, or cascading. Are you looking to create a grove of Japanese maples? Maybe create a spotlight with a solitary specimen? Do you want to fill a large container? Or perhaps a taller Japanese maple as the main attraction?
Leaf Shape: Decide which type of foliage appeals to you. Once you’ve got the size and form figured out, think about foliage. Japanese maple foliage is primarily divided into two types: either palm-shaped (Acer palmatum), or delicate and lacy (Acer palmatum var. dissectum). There are fans of both types, and the choice is often informed by the style of the garden or the surrounding structures.
Leaf Color: What color of foliage appeals most? With a range of foliage colors–red, green, orange, purple, white, and pink depending on the season–Japanese maples are among the most colorful of trees. Some leaf out in brilliant reds in spring, change to green by summer, and finish the fall in yellows and oranges. Others start red and stay red till autumn. Do you want a sequence of changing color from spring to fall or do you just really love rich, dramatic red throughout the seasons?
Once you have a handle on these considerations, it’s time to see some options! It’s always best to visit your local garden center to get the best possible information on what grows very well in your specific region.
To get you started here are some of our favorite Japanese maples divided by size and suggested ways to use them as well as care and planting info.
This is a considered purchase, so if you have questions or need more specific advice, please use the comments section.
Best for Small Spaces and Containers
Some Japanese maples are either naturally dwarf, or grafted onto rootstock that keeps them small for years (even decades if you’re into pruning), or simply very slow-growing. These offer the opportunity to have a spectacular specimen that you can grow in a container or in a confined space. Choose carefully and avoid issues later by only selecting those that max out at no more than 10 ft. tall and wide at maturity.

Shaina Japanese Maple
Zone: 5 – 8
Dwarf, compact form that becomes dense with maturity. New foliage emerges bright red, aging to deep maroon. Partial shade to full sun. Up to 8 ft. tall and wide.

Kagiri Nishiki Japanese Maple
Zone: 5 – 8
Unique pink and white irregular border on the light green leaves. Slow-growing it’s ideal for smaller courtyards. Partial shade to full sun. Up to 8 ft. tall and 4 ft. wide.

Red Dragon Japanese Maple
Zone: 5 – 8
Beautiful, deeply dissected purple leaves turn bright apple red in fall. Slow growing and perfectly sized for containers. Partial to full sun. Up to 5 ft. tall and wide.
Best for Grouping or Statement
While we often see them carefully situated as stand alone specimens, especially in Asian-inspired gardens, in the wild Japanese maples grow in groups as understory plants in shady woodland spaces. You can get the same effect in your own garden by mixing several different types, shapes, and sizes ranging from about 10 ft. tall and above. While each will need ample room to grow, plant close enough so their branches can intermix. Magic!

Shishigashira Japanese Maple
Zone: 5 – 8
Heavily curled foliage becomes purple-red with orange-red patterns in fall. Less likely to sunburn than other varieties. Partial to full sun. Up to 15 ft. tall and 10 ft. wide.

Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple
Zone: 5 – 8
Cascading, but slightly more upright than other dissected-leaf form varieties, with outstanding reddish-purple color. Partial shade to full sun. Up to 15 ft. tall and wide.

Fireglow Japanese Maple
Zone: 5 – 8
Smaller than ‘Bloodgood’ with a upright habit that’s lovely with other mid-sized Japanese maples. Partial shade to partial sun. Up to 10 ft. tall and wide.
Best for One Big WOW
If you have a spot that needs both height and drama, a Japanese maple that tops about at about 25 ft. tall might be just what you’re looking for. While still relatively small as trees go, they’re big on the wow factor due to their shape, foliage, bark, or often all of the above. These three are best used where they can stand alone without other trees or large shrubs competing for attention. As with all trees, pay careful attention (believe the label!) to mature size.

Ryusen Weeping Japanese Maple
Zone 5 – 7
Unique, weeping form with rapid growth that shoots straight up and cascades down. Excellent for narrow spaces. Partial shade to full sun. Up to 20 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide.

Bloodgood Japanese Maple
Zone: 5 – 8
Foilage opens red, turns brilliant-scarlet in fall, and blackish-red bark is a winter standout. Excellent small lawn tree. Filtered to full sun. Up to 20 ft. tall and 15 ft. wide.

Osakazuki Japanese Maple
Zone: 5 – 8
Bright green summer leaves become brilliant crimson red in fall, holding color for several weeks. Lovely specimen tree. Partial to full sun. Up to 25 ft. tall and wide.
Japanese maples need:
- While some can tolerate full sun, Japanese maples prefer dappled or afternoon shade, especially when young. Shade does have it’s limits though–they need some sun for best foliage color and to promote the more loose and open structure for which they are prized.
- Protection from strong winds.
- Well-drained, consistently moist soil–during extreme heat or drought, give them a little extra water.
- Protection from late spring frosts, especially when young.
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What Japanese Maple can tolerate full sun? Acer Palmatum Fireglow? Climate zone 9B
[…] Grow Beautifully – Monrovia […]
Hello… What maple can i plant in zone 9b…??? I was looking for something that is about 15 ft. tall…..I really like the japanese maple.. But I know they will not grow here.. thanks…
Which Japanese maple weeping lace leaf dwarf for a focail point will stay red all summer
There are several that will work for you depending on how small you need the plant to stay. Take a look at Tamukeyama which is reddish-purple in summer and becomes very red in fall, and Garnet, which stays red all summer into fall. I hope this helps. If you need more info, please don’t hesitate to ask.
https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/3782/tamukeyama-japanese-maple/
https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/4950/garnet-japanese-maple/
We are looking for a Japanese red maple which will grow slowly, to about 3-4 feet tall and wide, in 10 years or so. We want to plant it next to our pond garden. Which trees would you recommend? Thanks!
So, I thought of this plant and double checked with our Granby, CT nursery who confirmed that it’s a maple that will thrive in your climate and keep roughly to the dimension you requested. Have a look and if you have questions, do let me know.
https://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/301/red-dragon-japanese-maple/
I am looking to replace harpstring Japanese maple. Do ypu have one and where are you located. I live in Toronto, Ontario.
Thanks.
Regards.
Ruth
Hi Ruth–I will forward this to customer care who can better/faster answer you. If you need more help, don’t hesitate to double back here.
Hi. I live in Queens NY.. I looking to grow a japanese maple in the front yard of my house. The space I have is about 6 ft × 12 ft. And I want to keep my window vision clear…. so, I the tree not to grow more that 6 to7 ft tall… my auestion is which is better the inaba shildare or crimson queen . Considering the space and I dont want the branches extent to my neiborn front yard and also I dont want to have a tree in the shape of a mushroom.. Please advise.. Thank you
Hi Alfred–I will drop you an email with a few links that I think you will find helpful. If you need more, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
[email protected]. I have a very small enclosed courtyard 2 m x 3m. I’d like to do a Japanese garden of paths n a maple in the centre (maybe). It could grow to 3m. It would be shaded. Well drained and loved please advise given Victoria’s climate is changing so much. Thanks
[…] can choose from a few different forms or shapes that the trees will grow into. According to Monrovia, the six shapes of Japanese maples are the […]
What is the Japanese maple that is adorning the top/the opening picture of the site? Likewise, what maple would grace the site under “best for one big wow!” These two look similar. I would love to know what tree these are—they are adorable!! And I can’t tell by looking myself… need your comments. To purchase perhaps? And thanks
Can you suggest a grouping of three where the tallest will be no more than 10 feet? I like the waterfall maple, the tamukeyama as well as the orangeola. Aleady have a coral bark and could choose 2 more for a grouping or leave it as is and use 3 elsewhere. Thoughts? Thank you, Dan
Hi Dan,
Coral bark maple is an upright grower to 15-25 feet. It would look wonderful to group it with a weeper like ‘Tamukeyama’ and another smaller Japanese maple. Keep in mind the mature dimensions of these plants when spacing them. Acer palmatum ‘Orangeola’ has orange-red fall color and would contrast nicely with fall foliage of both Acer palmatum ‘Tamukeyama’ and Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’. Plus the red-coral winter bark of the Coral bark maple will provide a focal point through the winter. We hope this helps.
I’m looking for possibly two japanese maples to replace a large landscaping tree in our front yard (east facing) that is too tall and brushing up against power lines. If you imagine the power lines are making an “L” shape, I would like a larger one to be at the top of the L, and one of the weeping variety to be at the bottom right of the “L.” The larger one would would be withing 8 ft of my sewer lateral, and the power lines are 15 ft up. Any suggestions?
[…] Need help finding just the right one for your yard? Start here. […]
We are looking for a Japanese Maple tree – perhaps Shin Deshojo – for a container in our patio. It would be against a white wall just outside a garden window. The patio has a covered roof but the area where the tree would be has skylight-type panels. Would this be a good fit or do you have other suggestions. I definitely want one that has both green seasons and bright colored fall seasons. Was also looking at Seiryu.
Hi Sheri–I am concerned that this is in a covered area which might not provide the light and air circulation these trees need, even with skylights. You might take photos of the actual space at different times of the day to a garden center so they can assess if your space is right for this kind of plant.
If you’re good to go, then the trick to growing a Japanese maple in a container is to find one that is either slow growing or is a dwarf variety. Shin Deshojo Japanese Maple is a really choice as is Shaina Japanese Maple. Let me know what you decide to do!
Love your site , i’m very fascinated with Japanese maple .
Thank you .
We are looking for a Coral-Red bark Maple to plant within 3-4′ in the corner of our house. This spot receives afternoon sun (faces west) but because of space, cannot go as high as 25″ with a 4′ base. What do you recommend? We really love the red bark in the winter….
Thank you
Is there a Japanese maple which stays 5’ or less, and needs more shade than sun?
where to buy?
Can the Red Dragon Japanese Maple grow in Sarasota, Fl .
We live in Austin, Texas near a greenbelt with deer. Is the Japanese red maple resistant to deer?
I’ve been trying to figure out what type of Japanese Maple I have… I found it out by the curbside, left for dead about 2 years ago and have no idea how to care for it. What I (and the former owner) originally thought it must have been some type of disease, now I think it was just sunburnt. I know for a fact it got sunburnt last year on the back deck. Possibilities are Emperor 1, Trompenburg, Red-Leaf, Bloodgood… etc. It dropped its leaves in the winter but started budding in early spring so I changed the soil and brought it indoors when we had another freeze. It started growing beautifully, adding 2 feet of branches and leaves over the past month and I finally decided to put it on the shady front porch that get’s partial indirect sun for a few hours… It’s only been out for a few days and I already see it’s perfect leaves getting crispy edges. I’m not sure what the problem is. The weather has been nice enough to leave open doors and windows… The leaves are also curling under and, I’m not sure if that’s characteristic of its species or a problem… I know the browning edges are… and it did not have them before I put it outdoors. The buds started off Maroon but have been gaining a greenish hue and the newer leaves are now growing green.
[email protected]. I live in Philadelphia Pa. I have purchased 2 Japanese Maples and they both died I love this type of tree. The first one died because I knew nothing about them only my love for them the second one died because I have no shade so I need a solution please help
Looking for a Japanese maple 25 feet or taller with good leaf color
I like the Osakqzuki Japanese maple
[…] over to Monrovia’s site to read a fantastic article on how to select the right Japanese maple for your […]
Do you carry acer palmatum in a 5-6′ specimen of Tsuri nishiki; Shindeshojo; Iijumasunago, Kilarney or Kinran? I would be able to purchase from Plantworld in Albuq., New Mexico as I am a landscape designer in Santa Fe.
Have a potted Bloodgood which has leafed out beautifully 3X then the leaves curl up and literally disappear. It looks healthy but what is going wrong?! By the way I live in NE Fla.
So this plant has gone dormant or is it dead? Are the branches still pliable? When leaves curl up on a Japanese Maple it’s typically due to either sun scald or too much water. Can you tell us a bit more about the conditions where your plant is living?
Linking this article to our website for others to read. Great Article!
I need to replace a Japanese Maple that did not do well in my garden. It is to be planted in a small space next to a water feature in the front of a
kitchen window. The area is mostly shady and I definitely want a dwarf tree such as “Never Red”, “Bloodgood”, “Crimson Queen.”
Please advise your recommendations and pricing. Also include delivery charges, if any. We live in Encino.
This is a wonderful article. I am saving it!
I have a tamekuyama Japanese Maple, about 2 ft. tall, spindly, but in good condition. Should I be pruning it this winter, to make it bush out, or just leave it alone? Will it get bushy as it grows?
I want a Japanese maple with “mounding” form, 10′-12′. I live the n zone7. What varieties can I choose from?
Is there any JM that I can grow in zone 9A in Texas?
Can you please send me a zone map? I think I’m in zone 6 as I live in Hutchinson, Kansas. Are the lower numbers south or north?